Trailer toilet



Sept. 14, 1948. A. G. AGRA 2,449,442

TRAILER TOILET j Fileaoct. 4, 1947 Sheets-sheet 1 Lg Ld LJ ffzM/z fr:

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A. G. AGRA TRAILER TOILET Sept. 14, 1948.

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Y mw. Nw mm mm NQ wm. NNW wh Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES l@EXTENT OFFICE 'rainure roi-LET Arthur G. Agra, Chicago, Ill.

Ii-.ppiication @ctober 4, 1947, Serial No. 77-7-,926-

5 Glairns.

This invention relates to toilets, and has to do more Yparticularly withtoilets for use in automobile house trailers and like structures.

In general, automobile house trailers presently in use are not providedwith'adequate toilets. One of the objects of thev present inventionresides in the provision ora toilet that is leakproof, sanitary" andfree of any objectionable odors.

Another object' of the present invention resides in theprovision. of atoilet wherein the water supplyfand Waste disposal systems thereof areso arranged that the pollution from the toilet of the water supply, thatVmay. bedrawn from a water source usedV for drinking purposes, washing,bathing; or 'the like, is'effectively guarded against.

A further object of the'invention resides in the provisionof aninexpensive, simple `and compact toilet thatwill occupy'a minimum ofspace in an automobile house trailer.

` Still 1other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and in part will hereinafter appear, and they consist generallyin the features of construction, combinations of elements andarrangements of parts, which will be exemplied in the constructions' tobe described, and of which the scope of application Will be indicatedinthe appended claims.

In theac'companying drawings, in which is shown the preferredillustrative embodiments of theinvention:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a toilet embodying the principles of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the toilet of Figurev 1;

Figure 3 is a view partly in` elevation' and partly in vertical sectionof the toilet of Figure 1, as

viewed substantially along'the line 3--3 oil said latter gures;'

Figurel is a fragmentaryview, partly in elevation `and partly invertical section, taken substantially along line 4 4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View showing a modied manneroi connectingthe water supply to the'toilet.

Referring now indetail to the drawings, thev able material and which isini general of known' construction, is provided with` a depending tu-l Zbular neck I6l which seats on an interposed gaslkei;y II on the toiletsupport I2, to which it'is `secured in any known or desired manner. Theopening I8 deiined by neck. I Bpreferably is di'sposed concentric withthe opening Illu o'fL bore I4, or substantially so.. At its upperportion., bowl I5 is provided with a passage` I9' extending thereaboutand provided' with downwardly `di'- rected openings, onel offwhich is'shown ati21, as is known. Atits rear, bowl Iltis provided `with theoutwardly extending `Vportion ,22' and thefintegrally depending portion23, both' having cpm'- municating internal passages, which .communicatewith passage I3.. A` horizontally disposed pipe ZIithreadsintoportion^23and extends there'- from a sufficient distance' to clear'the side of" bowl I5, where it threads'into'f an elboWZE,l which:` elbow2.5 has threaded engagement with aver"- tically'disposedl pipe 26,(Figure 3). Pipe 26 ex*- tends to immediatelyadjacentthe top of bowl|51;` s whereit has threadedengagement with an" elbow lZTfOrmedintegrally withone end of an elongated valve chamber 2li".V

WithinV chamber. 2`8'a flow restriction- Zllis pro"- vided, whichrestriction isnorm'ally closed' by'al checkvalve 3| havingtone' endpivoted at 32' to a web 33 formedLintegrally with theinner surface' of'the chamber. A plug 34 threading intor anV opening adjacent' elbow' 28maybe removed toi gain access. to valve 3l.v Flow' of water throughchamberZB-` is governed by a water shut-ofi" valve 35 operablebyrotation of'handle 36; Such valve' may be of any knownor desiredconstruction and, as shown, is located between* plug' 34 and theend'V ofchamber' 28 which receiveswater supply pipe 31. This latter` pipe is'suitably secured to the" bottom of chamber 28, and extends therefromvertically downwardly and passes through a suite able opening in thefloor I1' of the automobile house trailer. When the trailer is parked ina'A trailer camp, the water supplypipe 31 may; be connected to the'camp`water supply in a suitable known. manner, and when the trailer isontlie` road the' pipe 31 maybe connected in a known ,manner to theusual water storage Vtank of the' trailer. l

At the4 end" ofi' chamber' 2'8v adjacent pipe 3'I`, a; suctionresponsive valve 38 is connected' toandf projects from.- the top of the`chamber. Such" valve isV connectedv to a return bend 39, whichn enligne3 constructed substantially as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. In theevent the water supply to pipe 31 is cut off and the water is drainedfromthat pipe, a partial vacuumv would be pro- 'duced therein, and inchamber 28 if valveV 35 is open. When that occurs, the suctionresponsive valve 38 opens to admit air drawn from pipe 4I, into chamber28 and thence into ,pipe 31, thus breaking the vacuum in said chamberand latter pipe. Further, any partial vacuum produced in chamber 28 andpipe 31 causes the check valve 3| to be held more tightly against itsseat. Ac'- cordingly, this valve 3| and the suction responsive valve 38cooperate to assure that pollution 'from bowl I5 of the source of Watersupply cannot occur. That is, of course, of utmost imon one end of anelbow 16. A gasket 11 is conai ned between flanges 13-15, and thisgasket 11 is provided with a check valve of substantially the identicalconstruction of the valve 42, the

flanges 13"-15 will open, while upon ,upward movement of piston 5I,valve 42 will open and the valve between anges 13-15 will close. A pipe18 is connected at 19 to the other end of elbow portance, as isrecognized by health authorities.

The opening |42) in pump support I3 is controlled by an upwardly openingand downwardly closing valve member 42. This valve is in the forin f agasket 43 and may be formed of an impregnated material, of leather, orof any other suitable material. The gasket 43 extends throughoutsubstantially the full area of the upper surface, of support I3, and isclamped between such support and the out turned flange of a pumpcylinder 44, which seats on the gasket 43 and is secured to the supportI3 as by bolts 45,Y or-in any other suitable manner. An arcuateV slot 46formed in gasket 43 defines the valve member 42. Metal discs 41 and 48are secured to the upper and lower faces, respectively, of valve member42, as by screw lmeans 49, or in any other suitable or preferred manner.The disc 41 is of Vsomewhat larger diameter than the opening |.4b whichis closed by valve member 42. As will be clear from what has been said,valve 4,2 opens upwardly and closes downwardly and normally is held in aclosed position.

,IA piston 5| ts snugly in pump cylinder 44 and is verticallyreciprocable therein. Piston 5| comprises al pair of cup-shaped members52-53 disposed with their backs in opposed relationship and confiningtherebetween a pair of pump washers or leathers 54-55, the washers Ibeing of sufficient size to be turned over the peripheral flange ofmembers 52-53 and disposed for sliding movement along the inner surfaceof the wall of cylinder 44. A piston rod 56 has o ne end threadedthrough the hubs 51 of members 52-53 and holds such members and washersr54---55 in assembled relationship. Rod 56 extends vertically upwardlyin cylinder 44 and passes through a packing gland 58 threaded into acylinder cover 59, whichV cover is secured to the cylinder as by thebolts 6I. The end of the rod externally of the cylinder threads into aclevis 62. An operating arm or handle 63 is disposed in unbalancedrelationship between the arms of clevs 62 and pivotally supportedthereon at 64. The short arm of handle 63 engages between one end of apair of links 65-66 to which it is pivotally secured at 61. The oppositeend of links 65-56 are pivotally secured at 68 to lugs 69 suitablyformed on cover 59 of pump cylinder 44. Operation of handles 63 will, ofcourse, reciprocate piston 5| vertically in cylinder 44.

Pump cylinder 44 has an integral casting pro-A jecting horizontallyoutwardly from one side thereof forming a pipe 1I having a bore 12substantially the diameter ofV bore I4, the bore 12 communicating withcylinder 44 immediately above valve 42. A flange 13 formed on pipe 1| issecured, as by bolts 14, to a flange formed 16, and extends therefromdownward through the trailer floor II for discharge into a suitablebucket or container beneath the trailer or, if desired, the pipe 15 maybe connected by la length of hose to any suitable point of discharge.The bore` I4, pipe 1| and pipe 16 provide a continuous dischargeconduit, as will be understood.

Preliminary to use of the toilet, a substantial amount of water shouldbe admitted to the bowl1 cylinder 44. valve 42 is closed, and the valvebetween flanges 'i3-15 is opened, so that the contents of cylinder` 44are discharged under pressure through pipe 1| and then through thedischarge conduit comprising elbow 15 and pipe 18. During this op,-eration the valve 35 remains open and bowl I5 is thoroughly ushed outwith clean water, the succeeding upstroke of piston 5| again opening -f'valve 42, and closing the valve between flanges times, and thoroughlyushing the bowl |5, theY toilet may be maintained in a thoroughly cleanand sanitary condition.

In order to prevent formation of a partial vacuum above piston 5| duringits downstroke, a pipe in the form of an elongated elbow 8| is connectedat one end by suitable fittings 82 to pump :cylinder 44 and communicateswith the interior thereof immediately below cylinder cover 59. Thevertically disposed opposite end of pipe 8| is connected to a coupling83, which coupling 83 is connected to an elbow 84. This latter elbow isin turn connected to one end of a pipe 85 of larger diameter'located ata higherY level than the elbow 16. The opposite end of pipe 85 issuitably connected to the upper part of the bend of elbow 16 forcommunication therewith. A suction responsive valve 86 secured to pipe85 controls flow of air thorugh a port 81 in said pipe. Valve 86 is ofgenerally known construction and comprises the valve seat 88 having theport 89 normally closed by a ball 9| urged into engagement with seat 88by a relatively l ight spring 92. Acoupling l93 connects valve 85 with avent pipe 94, which pipe is lead generally vertically downwardly fromcoupling 93 and passes through a suitable opening in floor of thetrailer where it is open to atmos-` phere. It will be realized that ventpipe 94,

On the downstroke of piston 5|,.

thefroof oirthe trailer, if desired.

as well vent pipe 4|, maybe passed through Y dDuring-,downstroke ofpiston,5.|` ,ba1l Sliisidrawn from its seati and air is admittedfromfpipe 94 into-pipe@ and thence throughmipe Shinto-.cylinder 44 abovepiston 5 l ,thereby breaking any partialivacuum occasioned bydownwardmovement of piston 5I. The pipe lffelbowekl :and pipedconstitute a conduit between cylinder/44 and-elbowf1i During upstrokeofpiston,5",l rany appreciableamount of liquid which may lhave leaked,past the piston, and yis -disposed `.thereabove, will L'be forcedthroughflthefaforesaid,conduit into .elbow 16, it beingenoted;thatwalveis .closedduring such upward-.fmovement-fof piston i5 handig-hat noliquid twill, thereforegbe `forced intoven'tgpipe 54. The contents Aofcylinder-54A are :th-us v.electively discharged @through :the conduitdened by pipe 1I and elbow 16, and the conduit defined by pipes 8l84 andelbows 1li-84, into pipe 18. If the flowing of materials down pipe 18tends to produce a siphoning action and thereby producing a partialvacuum in pipe 13 and elbow 16, the Valve 86 will open admittingatmospheric air to said pipe and elbow, thus assuring that the valvebetween flanges 13-15 will not be open on the upstroke of piston 5I,which, if such were the case, would destroy the partial vacuum belowpiston 5| necessary for the opening of valve 42.

As shown in Figure 5, the depending portion 23 of the bowl I5 may, ifdesired, be omitted and, instead of leading pipe 24 into the side of thebowl, the pipe may be connected through a suitable tting 95 directly tothe top of the bowl to communicate with passage I9.

It will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the eld and scope of the invention, and it is intended toinclude all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims, in this application in which the preferred form only of theinvention has been disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toilet for automobile house trailers, and the like, a basestructure, a bowl and a substantially vertical cylinder carried by saidbase structure in spaced relationship, said base structure having a borecommunicating with said bowl and cylinder, a normally closed upwardlyopening and downwardly closing valve controlling communication betweensaid bowl and cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, thecylinder having two outlet passages opening thereinto one adjacent andone remote from the bottom of the cylinder, a normally closed upwardlyopening and downwardly closing valve controlling the lower one of saidoutlet passages, and an outwardly closing and inwardly opening suctionresponsive valve associated with the other of said outlet passageseffective for admitting air thereto responsive to creation of a partialvacuum in said cylinder above said piston.

2. In a toilet for automobile house trailers, and the like, a basestructure, a bowl and a substantially vertical cylinder carried by saidbase structure in spaced relationship, said base structure having a borecommunicating with said bowl and with said cylinder at the lower endthereof, a normally closed upwardly opening and downwardly closing valvecontrolling communication between said bowl and cylinder, a pistonoperating in said cylinder for withdrawing and discharging the contentsof said bowl, the cylinder having at its lower end an outlet throughwhich the fcontentsfof fsail1 cylinder 'are i discharged thy operationof :said piston, Jal-wastefpipe, ia s conduit connecting :said cylinderoutlet with said waste pipe, o, normally closed valve iin said lconduitrior controlling vsaid i cylinderkoutlet, va `second conduitconnectedbe'tw'een-said cylinderiadjacent the upper end thereof andsaidwastepipegfanidianroutwardly/closing and inwardly opening suctionresponsive valve asSQCiated with said conduits for admitting airtosaidcylinder-andwaste pipe.

l3. :In fa .toilet'for automobile house trailers, and the like, a basestructure, a bowl and a^cylinder carried by said base structure inspaced relationship, said `base structure having aboreAcommunicatingfwith said bowl andicylinder, a normally closedztupwardly,opening anddownfwardly closing val-ue `controlling .communication .ibetween ltsaid bowl and fcylinder, a `piston `oper-ating in.saidllcylind-er for` withdrawing andzdischarging the :toontents of saidbowl, the cylinderthaving {annui-.let through which the contents of saidbowl are discharged by operation of said piston, a waste pipe, a conduitconnecting said cylinder outlet with said waste pipe, a normally closedupwardly opening and downwardly closing valve in said conduit forcontrolling said cylinder outlet, a second conduit connected to saidwaste pipe and to said cylinder at a point remote from said cylinderoutlet, and an outwardly closing and inwardly opening suc- -tionresponsive valve associated with said conduits for admitting air to saidcylinder and said waste pipe.

4. In a toilet for automobile house trailers and the like, a bowl havingan outlet opening at its lower end, a reciprocating discharge pumpcomprising a substantially vertical cylinder .and a piston operatingtherein, said pump having adjacent the lower end of said cylinder anintake opening for communication with said outlet opening and adischarge opening, an inlet valve for said pump controllingcommunication between said outlet and intake opening, said valve openingtoward said piston and closing toward said bowl, a discharge conduitcomprising a member extending from and above said discharge opening, aninwardly closing and outwardly opening pump discharge valve controllingsaid conduit disposed below the high point thereof effective forproviding a water seal above said discharge valve when the latter isclosed, and a second conduit connecting said cylinder adjacent its upperend to said discharge conduit adjacent the high point thereof fordelivering to said discharge conduit liquid from said cylinder abovesaid piston and admitting air to said cylinder above said piston.

5. In a toilet for automobile house trailers and the like, a bowl havingan outlet opening at its lower end, a reciprocating discharge pumpcomprising a substantially vertical cylinder and a piston operatingtherein, said pump having adjacent the lower end of said cylinder anintake opening for communication with said outlet opening and adischarge opening, an inlet valve for said pump controllingcommunication between said outlet and intake openings, said valveopening toward said piston and closing toward said bowl, a dischargeconduit comprising a member extending from and above said dischargeopening, an inwardly closing and outwardly opening pump discharge valvecontrolling said conduit and disposed below the high point thereofeffective for providing a water seal above said discharge valve when thelatter is closed, a second conduit connecting said cylinder adjacent itsupper end to said discharge conduit adjacent the high point REFERENCESCITED The following` references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 141,482 Bishop Aug. 5, 1873205,036 Bishop June 18, 1878 289,210 Bishop Nov. 7, 1883 368,329 DeRyckeAug. 16, 1887 MacDonald Oct. 5, 1897 Number Name` Date Y Miles Nov`. 21,1899 Diem ;1 r June 15, 1909 Hunter 1 .Sept. 10, 1918 Hunter Jan. 17,1922 Mahoney Nov. 22, 1927 Lee Oct. 15, 1929 `Lee Mar.. 18, 1930 Kelleyet al. Apr. 22, 1930 Allan .'1..- NOV. 22,' 1932l Entriken V May 22,1934 Holby Apr. 14, 1936 vGlenk v Nov. 10, 1936 Salvoni Apr. 26, 1938Yoder May 17, 1938 Sloan et al. Dec. 24, 19,40 DuPont` July 1, 1941Ellis Apr. 3, V194.5

